Fruit feeding and orienting means



Oct. 6, 1959 J. M. HAlT FRUIT FEEDING AND ORIENTING MEANS Original Filed June 19, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet l INVILENTOR. fflMES #7. #1917 i 6 5ATTORNEYS.

0d. 6, 1959 J H 2,907,440

FRUIT FEEDING AND ORIENTING MEANS Original Filed June 19, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JAMES M. 509/7 BY fi 6 1 ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 6, 1959 J. M. HAlT FRUIT FEEDING AND ORIENTING MEANS Original Filed June 19, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. E 14 .J'HMES M. 15 19/7- BY Q . ATTORNEYS,

Oct. 6, 1959 J. M. HAIT FRUIT FEEDING AND ORIENTING MEANS Original Filed June 19, 1950 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 6, 1959 HAlT 2,907,440

FRUIT FEEDING AND ORIENTING MEANS Original Filed June 19, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 6, 1959 J. M. HAlT 2,907,440

FRUIT FEEDING AND ORIENTING MEANS Original Filed June 19, 1950 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 @xmrmxmrmrcta cm I mvEMToR. 8 J JHMES m Haw/r i ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 6, 1959 J." M. HAIT FRUIT FEEDING 1mm ORIENTING MEANS Original Filed June 19, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 as; w 63' INVENTOR. JIQMES M 609/7 United States PatentO FRUIT. FEEDING AND ORlENTlNG MEANS James M. Halt, San Jose, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Original application June D, 1950, Serial No. 169,042. Divided and this application April 2, 1953, Serial No. 346,373

9 Claims. (Cl. 198-33) This invention relates to a fruit feeding and orienting mechanism for feeding fruit to a processing machine and a major and minor diameter so that one of the diameters,

here the major diameter, lies in the plane which serves as a reference plane for the processing of the fruit.

While this machine was particularly designed for and is adapted for use in feeding peaches to a processingxmachine, tits adaptation is obviously not limited to such a machine, nor are its features of novelty limited to particular type of fruit or its processing. I

There are many fruits processed which involve locating of the fruit in a proper plane so that they may be halved in this plane as a step in their processing. It is to the feeding of this type of fruit that this invention is particularly directed. k i

' For many years fruit processing machines have been utilizedwhich have required hand feeding of the fruit because ,of the requirement that the fruit must be fed to the machine in a particular position or in a particular plane of the fruit in order to obtain satisfactory process- ,ing. As previously stated, this machine was particularly designed for the feeding of peaches to a processing machine in which fruit is halved in its planeof suture and where the fruit is fed into the machine with reference to its calyx indent so that the fruit may be satisfactorily pitted after being halved, together with the pit, so that the shallow pit halves lie in each half of the fruit from which they are subsequently removed by the pitting mechansim.

It has long been realized that, with a satisfactory machine for feeding peaches to such a processing machine, a great saving in overall cost of the processing of the fruit could be obtained because of the greater efficiency of such operation and the elimination of the problems of the uncertainty of manualoperations due to the unable delivery device to aprocessing machine and for N 2,907,440 Patented Oct. 6, 1959 2 orienting the fruit during the time of feeding of the fruitfrom the delivery device to the processing machine so that it may be properly transferred into the processing machine in predetermined position.

Another object is to provide means in the path of movement of the fruit and prior to delivery of the fruit to the processing machine for ejecting all fruit which is i not properly positioned prior to transfer into the processing machine.

Another object of this invention-is to provide a fruit feeding and aligning mechanism which includes a fruit support and aligning member upon which a fruit is supported and by which the fruit is aligned and wherein means are employed for moving the fruit supporting and aligning member through a feed path having near its end a means for engaging the periphery of the fruit in the direction of its travel to displace from the supporting and aligning member fruit which is not properly aligned and positioned; j

Another objectof this invention is to provide a fruit feeding and orienting mechanism which includes a fruit supportingmember, a means for aligning the fruit upon the supporting member with relation to an indent thereon for orienting the fruit with reference to a reference plane and wherein the supporting member is moved through a path adjacent the end of which an ejecting mechanism is employed which operates to displace fruit from the supporting mechanism which is not properly oriented there- Another object of the present invention is to provide means for vibrating the fruit during a portion of its travel through the feeding and orientating mechanism to promote and assist in the final alignment of the fruit. Another object of this invention is to provide a fruit feeding and orienting mechanism in which means are provided to locate an indent in the fruit surface, such as the calyx indent of a peach, means to reject fruit from the feeding mechanism, the indent of which has not been located, and means to orient the fruit into position with reference to the plane of reference desired.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fruit feedingand orienting mechanism in which means are provided to locate an indent in the fruit such as to reject improperly located fruit from the feeding mechanism, to"

orient and lock or hold the fruit in a reference plane, and to eject from oriented. v

Another object of this invention is to provide a means in a fruit orienting mechanism for orienting a fruit at its plane of suture from its elongated calyx indent. I

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved form of fruit feeding and orienting mechanism adapted to feed fruit in predetermined, position to a processing machine. 7

Other objects and advantages of this invention it is believed will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In-the drawings: t Figure lis a side elevation partly broken away for the purpose of illustration and showing a fruit feeding and orienting mechanism embodying my invention as interposed between a feed means and a fruit processing machine, both of which are fragmentally illustrated.

the feeding means fruit not properly the feed and orientingjmechanism to Figure 2 is'a fragmental view illustrating the integrating drive between the feed mechanism and the fruit processing machine.

Figure 3 is a sectional end View taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmental sectional view illustrating the manner of connecting the fruit support frame plates to their conveying chains.

Figure 5 is a plan view partly in horizontal section of the end portion of the feed andorienting means embodying my invention and showing its relation to a fragment of the processing machine towhich thefruit-is delivered.

Figure 6 is asectionalelevation taken substantially on the line 6y 6. of Figure 9 ofjone of the drive rollers of the supporting and orienting means embodying my invention.

Figure 7 is ase'ctiorial view taken substantially on the Figure 8. is an elevation of one .of the fruit supporting I elements embodied in my invention and illustrating the same partly in vertical section. I

Figure 9 is a side elevation partly in horizontal section taken on the line 9-4! of Figure 8 of one ofthe fruit supporting elements supporting my invention.

Figure 10 is a fragmental sectional view taken substantially on the 1ine 1t 10 of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a fragmental sectional plan view taken substantially on the line 1111 of Figure 8.

Figure l lisa planview of the structureillustrated i in Figure} and takensubstantially on the line 1.4.14.; of Figure 16. v

Figure 15 is a fragmental elevation illustrating the transfer of the properly aligned andoriented fruit from the processing machine. h

Figure. 16 is a fragmental side elevation showing.par-- ticularlv the operating mechanismfor vibratingv the indent finder to efliect final alignment of the fruit prior to discharge of, fruit from such" supporting. members that have not been properly oriented.

Figures 1' 7, 18 and 19.,are diagrammatic illustrations. showing the orientation and positioning of a peach upon the. supporting members and the operation. in thddis: placing of;non-'oriented fruit from the saidsupports. "This, application is adivision of the patent application;

Serial; No. 169,042 for Fruit Feeding and orienting. Means, filed June 19, 1950. d

In the, preferred embodiment of myinvention as illus: trated in the accompanying drawings, I have shown my invention as particularly adapted for the feeding and orienting of clingstone. peaches toa clingstone. peach processing machine wherein. the,peaches to be oriented are oriented frorn their elongated calyx depressions so; that the, fruit is delivered to .the pick-up blades oft the' processing machine with the fruit thereon in their planes; of suture and, so that the-fruit has its pitlocated in adetermined position upon the endear the processing machine. V

In accordance with my invention fruit is indiscriminately delivered to a hopper 1 (Fig. 1) which may beef any suitable constructionas for example, illustrated in i I the copending application of James M. Hait, and Bruce H. Kellogg for Method and -Apparatus. for Orienting indented jFIllii,, Serial No.- 62,046,,filed in the United; States. Patent Oflice on or about Novemben26, 194.8,; The fruit from saidhcpper is delivered one at antimei fruit supporting elements 2 of a conveyor 2a which includes endless chains 3 adapted to move the fruit supporting elements 2 through a feed path in which the fruit is oriented.

As the fruit is progressed along this path on the supporting elements 2, it is rotated until the indent finder 4 finds the calyx indent or depression, so that its bud tip is in a substantially vertical position. Fruit that is not properly positioned with the finder locating the calyx indent is removed from between the fruit supporting elements and is subsequently discharged from the conveyor without transfer to the fruit processing machine while all fruit remaining in the pockets between opposing fruit supporting elements which has not been fully oriented is now. finally oriented in the remaining path of the conveyor and'a second ejector may then operate to dislocate any stillimproperlv positioned fruit beforeoperation of.

the transfer mechanism .6.which operates to .transferthe fruit fromthe supporting members 2 to the impaling blades 7 of the fruit processing machine.

The means for scanning the surface of the fruit with the indent finder4 may be of any suitable ordesirable construction, the preferred form of which is herein illus trated as including:

A suitable frame 9 (Fig. 3) is provided which supports spaced apart, conveyor shafts 10. and 11. Upon the shafts areisecuredspaced apart chain sprockets 12and 13.npon which the conveyor chains 3 are supported. Supported between the spacedapartconveyor chains} are 'fruit supportframe plates 14.which are carriedon pins 1 5,secured' at spaced intervals to the. links of the chains The pins 15 (see also Fig. 4) are passed through pin apertures 16 and 17' formed at the opposed ends .ofthe plates14 and the apertures 17 are elongated (Fig 17) .so, as to permit the necessary relative movement between the chain pins 15 and the plates 14 when the chains pass around the. sprockets Hand 13. I

Secured, to the frame. plates 14 (Figs. 3 and 9) are supporting roller standards.18 and .19 provided at their, upper endswith bearing bosses in which the roller shafts 20,.and 2 1 are jour'naled. The shafts 20 and 21 extend outwardly on the opposite sides of the standards 18 and 19 and supporting cone rollers .22 and23 (Fig. 8) are secured to the oppositely extending. ends of the shafts 20 and 21 forming between the four conical rollers a fruit receiving pocket into which'the fruitis posi-- I tioned as it is fed from the hopper 1.

Aswill beapparent from Figure 8, the conical rollers 22 and 23 are formed at their outer ends .to provide belt pulleysZA so that theopposed conical rollers supported upon the two shafts 20land 21 may be connected driving and driven relation through the medium of .belts 25,, The. conical rollers 22 and 23 have their faces serrated in a suitable manner so as to increase the. coeificientof-friction with the fruit supported thereby so that, as the cones 22 and 23 are rotated, the fruit sup-f portedbetweemsuch rollers is likewise rotated to presentits entire -surface to. the indent finder 4 so that the finder; 4. mav pass into the calyx depression of the fruitg .The indent; finder 4 is supported approximately cenQ a trally of the four conical rollers:22 and 23 andis prefv erably of the follpwing construction. so that itfwill not will hereinafter appear.

only find the indent but also may be operated to orient th e fruitwith relation to the elongated calyx cavity thereof so as -to determine the positionofthe fruit upon the u por nse emen sa As hereinillustrated, the-finder includes atubelfi 'at; euPPer nda which th e i o n ed n v w able ,or desirable manner alfinder head- 2? which has; l bi? rme t rw hic m y gas e fl h of. he f uit-.-

e c y depr ss on or h p po e that n The tube 2 ,(Figure-.;3). ismounted vto betvertically reciprocal and held in upwardiadvancedpositiom in p sitiqnt q heseiv djnpocketsformed Y PPQS QEA el a W h: he-mcd umt faspr n 9 hi hsecured to the lower end of thetube 26 through the medium of a hook 30 which is passed through the free end 31 of the spring 29 and is secured to the lower end of the tube 26 by passing through the transverse bores formed in the tube and the tube cap 32. The tube 26 is guided in its vertical reciprocation by passing through a bearing boss 33 formed as an extension of the spring housing 34 and having a guide bar 35 mounted near its lower end to fit within the bearing channel 36 formed in the lower boss extension of the spring housing 34. The spring 29 is mounted in the spring housing 34 and is secured at its upper end to a spring cap 37 which closes the upper end of the spring housing34.

The spring 29 is alight spring sufiicient only to move the finder 4 upwardly when not engaged with a fruit and is of only such strength as to exert a slight upward force on the finder 4 so as to maintain the same in contact with the surface of a fruit supported between the rollers 22 and 23 as such fruit is rotated so that the finder will scan the fruit surface until the calyx indent is located. The finder 4 will then be raised into the indent by the spring 29.

The finder assembly thus described is supported from the frame plate 14 in such manner as to permit the finder to rock in the direction of travel of the fruit through the finding path, andin order to accomplish this purpose, a U-shaped bracket 38 is'securedto the under surface of the plate 14 in any suitable manner.

Pins 39 (Figure 11) are fitted between the leg of the bracket 38 and into bores formed in a counterweight plate 40 which is suitably secured to the spring housing 34. The counterweight 46 is formed with an arm 41 in which a shaft 42 is secured. The shaft 42 carries a weight 43 on its inner end and extends on the opposite side of the arm 42 to engage a suitable indent 44 in one leg of the U-shaped bracket 38 to limit the upward oscillation of the finder 4 under the influence of the counterweight formed by the roller 43. Supported by the finder tube 26 are the finder wings 5 which may be of any suitable construction, but which are herein illustrated as including shaped rollers 45 which are journaled upon a pin 46 passed through thetube 26. The shaped rollers 45 preferably have their smaller ends inward toward the axis of the tube 26 and their larger ends out therefrom.

r "In order to rotate the cones 22 and 23 and also to time this rotation and to provide for the suitable interruption of a state of equilibrium assumed by a fruit supported upon the supports 2, I have provided means for rotating the rollers at suitable intervals and for raising the finder 4, which means are preferably of the following construction:

Supported by the frame 9 (Figure 3) are side plates 47 which are. spaced apart on the outer sides of the chains 3. The frame plates 47 carry thebearing hubs 48. within which the bearings 49 are mounted for rotatably supporting the conveyor shafts 10 and 11. The plates .47 have inturned flanges 50 at their upper ends and secured .to these inturned flanges 50 are drive plates 51. The drive. plates 51 extend inwardly to engage the friction drive roller 52'carried by the conical rollers 22 I and 23 supported upon one shaft, i.e., the shaft 21 of the the drive may be interrupted so that the rollers 22 and 23 come to rest. Means may be provided for reversing the, drive of the rollers 22 and 23, which means are herein illustrated as comprising depending plates 51 (Figure 3) which are secured to the under face of the inturned flange of the side plates 47 and present a reversal-v track 51 to engage the rollers 52 at the points where theaplate 51is interrupted, Tthereby reversing the' direction 6 of the rollers 52. This reversal and 23 will upset any position of equilibrium that a fruit may have attained as supported by the rollers and where the finder 4 has not located the calyx indent in the fruit allowing the-fruit to be rotated through a different position so that as the fruit is scanned with the finder 4, the calyx indent will be located.

Mounted over the path of movement of the fruit is a means 8 (Figure 1) for ejecting or dislocating fruit whichis not properly oriented in passing through the first portion of the orienting path. This means may be of any suitable construction and is herein illustrated as providing means which engages the outer periphery of the fruit while the fruit is being elevated by the raising of the calyx finder 4to a position of instability. At the time of elevation of the fruit by raising the calyx finder 4, the fruit is no longer rotated as the rollers 52 have passed beyond the end ofthe track 51.

i As herein illustrated (Figures 1 and 3),. this ejecting mechanism consists of a standard 53 formed of a pair of parallel rods secured to the drive plates 51 and which adjustably support a shaft 54 in suitable journaled blocks 55 so that the shaft may rotate. As herein illustrated, this shaft is an interrupted shaft and the ends of the interrupted shaft are secured to a curved plate 56 curved to present its convex concave side toward the fruit approaching the plate 56. The plate 56 is thus free to oscillate around the axis of the shaft 54. Means are provided for interrupting the oscillation of the plate 56 in substantially vertical position, which means are herein illustrated as including a stop element 57 which is carried by a shaft 58 supported in brackets 59 carried near the upper end of the frame 53. Means are provided which are adjustable in tension for releasably resisting the free oscillation of the plate 56:as it is engaged. by the fruit passing thereunder, which means are herein illustrated as including a suitable coil spring or other flexible element 59 which is connected between the pin 60 of bracket 61 carried by the frame 53 below the shaft 54. By changing the spring 59 or other flexible element provided, the resistance to the free rotation of the plate 56 may be determined.

Just prior to the engagement-of the ejector plate 56 with the fruit carried by the support 2 (Figure l), I prefer to stop cone rotation and then to provide means for raising the finder 4 to lift the fruit olf from the rollers 22 and 23 of the support 2 so that there is a more critical state of equilibrium provided between properly oriented and improperly oriented fruit. Where the indent of the fruit is located, the raising of the finder 4 may not raise the fruit from the supporting rollers, but where the indent finder is engaging the fruit surface but not in the indent, the fruit must be raised. To accomplish this result, I provide a lifting plate 62 (Figure I) mounted Within the frame 9 in position to engage the cap 32 carried at the lower end of the tube 26 to move the tube 26 and hence the finder 4 upwardly. I have also provided for the purpose hereinafter stated in tandem with the ejector plate 56 a second ejector element 63 which will engage the fruit after it has passed out from under thejejector plate 56. To accomplish this result I provide a pair of arms 64 which extend outwardly from the frame 53 and between these arms I pivotally support a second striker plate 65 which is carried by a shaft 66 so that it may oscillate outward in the path of movement of the fruitas carried by the supports 2.

Means are provided for vibrating the fruit as it is raised with the finder 4, which may also aid in the orienting of the fruit, the calyx indent of which has been orient the fruit to rotate the fruit so that the wings 5 will find the greatest diameter of the elongated calyx of the drive rollers 22 As the roller wings pass into the;elongated calygrindent,

they; act to lock (uphold the fruit-oriented. Fruit which is. not properly oriented may be ejected from theifeed path in passing under thesecond ejector to a position where-it will not be transferred to the'processing machine, The means provided. forv oscillating the fruit (and the fruit finder) is preferably of the following construction:

Secured in position on the frame a sprocket 68 meshing with one of the chains 3. Se-

cured to the oscillator shaft 67 -is a drive sprocket 69 over which a drive chain 7 0 is trained to drive the sprocket 71 of the oscillator mechanism. The oscillatormechanism is supported by a bracket 72 upon one of the side plates 47 and the sprocket 71 is secured to ashaft 73- carried by the bracket 72. Secured to the shaft 73 is an. actuator cam 74; the cam face of which is adapted to engage the cam roller 75 carried by one arm 76 of a bell crank 77 journaled on apin 78 secured to the side.

plate 47. The PPOsite arm 79 carries an adjustable crank arm 80 in any one of a plurality of holes. 81 formed along its length. The opposite end of the crank arm 80 is secured by a pin 82'between the cars 83 formed integrally with the supporting'arm 84 (Figure 14) for the lift plate 62. The supporting arm 84-is journaled on a pin 85 carried by the bracket 72 at. its outer end. A spring 86 is provided for normally urging the lift plate 62 to its lowermost position and this spring is con-. nected between the outturned flange 87 and the side plate 47 and the bracket 88 carried by the arm 84. In order to raise the finder 4, and hence the fruit on.

the supports 2, the lifting plate 62 (Figure 17) has an inclined race 62a at the entrance end for the cap 32 and has at its discharge. end a similar incline 62b.

The means provided for transferring the fruit (Figure 12) from the supports2 and for transferringthe fruit to the impaling blades 7 of the operating machine may be of'any suitable typeior construction andare herein illustrated as including a pairof gripping elements 89.

' Thegripping elements 89 may be provided with. a resilient rubber pad facing.,90. These gripping elements are carried at the endsof the arms 91, 92. The arms 91 and 92. (Figure 12) are pivotally supported at theends of parallel links 93 and 94-to give the gripping elements a motion toward and away from each other.

A bracket'95 is mounted at the upper end of the os-' cillator post 96 and this post 96 is offset from the path of movement of the fruit to one side and is. oscillated to move the gripping elements from their. pick-up positionas illustrated in Figure 15 in. full lines to the position of transfer shown in-dotted lines. picked up by the gripping elements 89 to a position where the impaling ,blade 7 'of the operating machine may pass between the said gripping. elements 89 and impale the fruit with the finder stop-97 of the said blades engaged in any suitable manner is an oscillator shaft 67 (Figure 1) which carries- The fruit is 3, the transfer mechanism 6, and the operating machine.

8*. that the. actuation of one link. 94.1esultsin .acorrespond-.1 ing actuation ofthe other link 94. A spring 102 iscon; nectedbetweenthe ears'103 of the links 94 and acts to. normally; hold the gripping elements 89' in open p0si-.

-. tion.

Means are-providedfor actuating the gripping .ele-. ments, which mea'nsmay-be of any suitable or desirable. construct-ion and are herein: illustrated as including an actuatingarm 104. (Figure 12) secured to the pin r and to which-the: link-.94- is secured. This arm 104 is secured by means of a pin 105 to an operating rod 106,. which rod 106 .is-mounted within the post 96. andex tends therethrough and has secured wits end aring 107 (Figure 7).

A yieldable connection is provided between the'op crating crank 108i(Figures-5, 7 and 15 and the operat-.

ing rod 106 which is here illustrated as including a roller 109 which is journaled on the rod'106 and is securedto a'sleeve 110 in which sleeve 110 the ring 107; is mounted'to reciprocate. A spring 111 is positioned.-

within the sleeve.110 between the collar 109*and the.

ring 107. Thus as a force is imparted to pull the rod 10617 downwa-rdto. close the. gripping elements 89, a yieldable connection is proyided-which-permits the gripping'elements to stop when they have engaged the surface'ofi the fruit with the required force to lift the same and any; further movementimparted bythe operating arm 108;- to pull the rod .106 downward is absorbed by the spring; 111.

Y The sleeve 110 is secured by means of a threadedcap; 112. adjustablyto the screw 113 pivotally mounted at theendv of the operatingarrn 108.

Means are I provided for driving the conveyor chains:

in timed relation; which means may be of any suitable-r or desirable construction and are herein illustrated as inin thecalyx depression and with the fruit impaled upon the; structural features of the operating machine described 'or the. particular transfer-mechanism utilized.

The links 93. (Figure 12) .are pivoted as indicated at: 99 'toithe. bracket 95 "andfthe links 94 are pivoted on the 'pins :100 of.. the -bracket 95:; The-links 9t-are provided with integral gear Lsegments 101 which-mesh to gether so cluding the following:

Mounted on the operating machine shaft 114 (Figures: 1-and-2).is a sprocket over which the conveyor chain 115: carrying the impaling element 7 is trained. Also secured": to the operating shaft 114 is a sprocket 116 over which: a. drive chain 117 is. trained. The drive chain 117 is; trained over the driven sprocket 118 secured to-the shaft. 11 of the orienting machine. The shaft 11is a tubular; shaft (Figure '3) and the sprocket 118 is secured to this tubular shaft.- transfer operating shaftull9. Secured to the shaft 119": is-the drive sprocket 120 which is likewise driven from; a chain and sprocket connection 121 from the operating; machine shaft114. Secured to the shaft 119 (Figure 15) is a crank arm 122 which carries a crank pin 123'; Secured to the crank pin 123 in fixed relation. thereto is a second crank arm 124. Journaled on the crank arm pin 125 is a pull-down arm 126, and journaled on the:

. crank'pin 123 is theoscillator arm-127. Both of these arms for actuating the rod 106 and for swinging the. post 96 are actuated from the same crank arm 122.

Secured to the frame plate 128 is a bracket 129.=in? which bracket there is secured a hollow shaft 130.3; Secured to a shaft 130a journaled in the hollowshaft-130 is .a swing bracket 131 which carries a'supporting collar:

132 intwhich the post96 is mounted. Pivoted'at thei end oftheswing arm 127' is a swing arm link 133 which is journaled to the shaft 130a.

The pull-down arm 126 is pivotally connected to apull-down link 134 (Figure 15) which is journaledon the shaft 130 and the link 134 carries a cam 135. The earn 135 engagesa cam roller 136 carried by the operat-' ing'arm108. The arm 108 is pivoted at a pin 137'to the swing bracket 131. A cam spring 138-is connected with the operating arm 108 and with a bracket 139 carried by 1 thespring bracket 131. Thus the entire operating mechanism is supported by'the swing bracket 131which'ist oscillated around its pivotal support by the swing .arm: 121, andduringthis operationthe pulldown arm-l26zacmu Journaledwithin the tubular shaft is a;

ates the cam 135 to cause the operating arm 108 in proper timed relation to. pull the rod 106 downward to close the clamps or gripping elements 89 in timed relation with the operation of both the fruit supports 2 and the impaling blade 1 of the operating machine. r r

In Figures 17, '18 and '19 the operation of the dislodging of improperly oriented fruit from the supports 2 .will be evident." In Figure 17 I, have illustrated a fruit properly oriented between the rollers 22 and 23 and where the finder 4 has located the calyx depression and the wings 5 are located along the rn'ajor axis of this depression so as to hold the fruit in proper oriented position. When thus properly oriented, the fruit will not be rotated by the rollers 22 and 23 but will remain in stationary oriented position. Fruit carriedby the supports 2 where the finder 4 has failed to find the calyx depression will at the time of passing under the ejector plate 56 be engaged on their outer periphery by this plate 56 and will be pushed off from the finder 4 and the rollers 22 and 23 when finder 4 is raised just before contacting ejector plate 56 to a position where they will be supported by a bar 140 carried by the frame plates of the supports 2 in engagement with the rearmost rollers 22 and will thus be out of position to be gripped by the clamps or gripping elements 89. The fruit in this position, as illustrated in Figure 19, will then be discharged from the orienting machine onto a return conveyor (not shown) or other suitable point of disposal where it may either be returned to the hopper 1 for passing through the orienting device again or may be otherwise disposed of.

I have illustrated in Figure 18 (in quite an exaggerated manner) the raising of the fruit from the rollers 22 and 23 by the lifting of the plate 62, raising the finder 4 to a position where the fruit is raised to an unstable position either out of engagement with both of the rollers 22 and 23, but usually where the fruit is supported between the finder 4 and one of the said rollers 22 or 23. In this position the fruit is not engaged by the finder 4 or the wings 5 and the mere act of passing the same under the ejector 56 will cause the fruit to be rolled backward on the support 2 into position in engagement'with the plate 140 (Figure 19).

In Figure 19 I have illustrated the normal position of the finder 4 where it is not depressed by the weight of a fruit showing the relative position of the finder 4 with reference to a fruit indicated therein in dotted lines.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a fruit orienter, the combination of a fruit supporting and orienting unit upon which a fruit to be oriented is supported, a calyx indent finder carried by said unit, means for rotating a fruit on the supporting and orienting unit to scan the surface of the fruit with acalyx indent finder carried by said member, said calyx indent finder having a laterally extending wing, andmeans' for rotating the fruit to scan the fruit surface with the finder whereby the finder onlocation of the calyx indent will pass into said indent'and the wing will extend into the indent in the direction of the greatest diameter of the indent, and will hold the fruit on'the support from rotation by the rotating means. 4. In a fruit orienting mechanism, the combination of a fruit support having a multiplicity of fruit supporting cones upon which the fruit to be oriented is posi tioned, means for driving the cones to rotate the fruit,

and a yieldably mounted calyx indent finder supported within the pocket between the cones in position to engage the fruit supported by the cones so that the fruit finder will scan the surface of the fruit while it is rotated and the calyx finder having a pair of laterally extending wings carried by the indent finder and adapted to pass into the calyx depression of the fruit with the indent finder to engage the fruit in the long section of the calyx indent to orient the fruit when the finder is vibrated up and down, and means for vibrating the indent finder.

5. In a fruit orienting mechanism, the combination of a fruit support having a multiplicity of fruit supporting cones upon which the fruit to be oriented is positioned, means for driving the cones to rotate the fruit, and a yieldably mounted calyx indent finder supported within the pocket between the cones in position to engage the fruit supported by the cones so that the fruit finder will scan the surface of the fruit while it is rotated and the calyx finder having a pair of laterally extending wing rollers carried by the indent finder and adapted to pass into the calyx depression of the fruit with the indent finder to engage the fruit in the long section of the calyx indent to orient the fruit.

6. In a fruit orienter, the combination of a conveyor, a fruit supporting and orienting member carried by the conveyor and including a plurality of conical rollers upon which a fruit to be oriented is supported, means for driving the rollers to rotate the fruit as supported thereby, and a calyx indent finder carried by said member in position to engage the surface of the fruit supported by the rollers, the calyx indent finder having an engaging head and a laterally extending wing adapted to engage within the finder to locate the calyx indent of the fruit, and 7 means for raising the calyx indent finder and vibrating the same while the same is engaged in the calyx indent of the fruit to orient the fruit as to the plane of suture of the fruit.

,2. In a fruit aligner, the combination of a conveyor,

a fruit supporting and orienting member carried by the conveyor and upon which afruit to be aligned is supported, a calyx indent finder carried by said member,

means for rotating a fruit supported by the fruit support.

an elongated indent in the fruit.

7. In a fruit orienter, the combination of a fruit supporting and orienting member, comprising two pairs of conical supporting rollers between which a fruit to be oriented is supported, means for driving one of said rollers to impart a rotation to the fruit supported thereby, a calyx finder positioned between said rollers to engage the under surface of a fruit supported by the rollers so that the calyx finder will scan the surface of the fruit as the fruit is rotated, and the calyx finder having a laterally extending wing adapted to engage in the elongated calyx cavity of a fruit to orient the fruit on the supporting members with reference to the elongation of the calyx indent.

8. In a fruit orienter, the combination of a fruit supporting and orienting member comprising a plurality of conical supporting rollers, means for driving one of the rollers to rotate a fruit supported thereby, .and a calyx indent finder positioned between the conical supporting rollers to engage the periphery of a fruit supported thereby and to scan the surface of the fruit as rotated, the calyx indent finder having a pair of laterally extending wing members extended from below the head of the calyx and adapted to pass with the calyx finder into an elongated calyx indent of a fruit to orient the fruit as the calyx finder locates the calyx indent.

9. In a fruit orienter, the combination of a fruit supporting and orienting member comprising a plurality of conical supporting rollers, means for driving one of the rollers to rotate a fruit supported thereby, and a calyx 'as the calyx finder locates thecalyxindent the said-wings indent linden positioned -,betweenthe conical supportingi rollers-to, engage the periphery of. a fruit supported:

comprisingsubstantially conical rollers the smaller-ends of which are positioned towardthe axisl-of thetcalyx v 10.

indent finderq 7 References Cited in the file of-this :patent UNITED? STATES PATENTS Lorenz Goranson' Jam lilpljf A ma-517193311 V 1 Carroll Dec;'9 ,;1941 Ashlock Sept. 22; 1942, 'Ashlock Oct. 30,- 1945' Ashlock" Aug. 27, 1946" Eldred'; Q Feb." 18; 1947? Carroll Sept. 25,1951

may 

